Rollscreen unit



June 19, 1934. H. DIXSON ROLLSCREEN UNIT 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l Filed Feb. 13, 1934 June 19, 1934. H, DIXSON ROLLSCREEN UNIT Filed Feb. 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cml) 2 m Patented June 19, 1934 v UNITED STATES ROLLSCREEN UNIT Harry Dixson, Pella, Iowa, assignor to Rolscreen Company, Pella, Iowa, a corporation oflowa Application February 13, 1934, Serial No. 711,008

, 6 Claims.

An object of my present invention is to provide a rollscreen-unit-that is, a unit complete in itself and adapted to be applied as a unit to a casement or other type of window, the parts of the unit being comparatively simple, durable and inexpensive to construct.

A further object is to provide a rollscreen unit especially adapted for mounting in place of a readily removable fiat screen now being provided for casement windows and the like, the frame of the rollscreen unit being somewhat like an ordinary flat screen, but my screen having the added advantage that it need not be removed when it is desirable to have the screen out of the way as the screen can be rolled up into a casing at the top of the rollscreen unit.

Still a further object is to provide a rollscreen unit which can be readily mounted by spring clips or the like secured to a Window sash so that the unit can be readily removed in the winter time if desired, or the screen portion thereof can merely be rolled up out of the way.

A further object is to provide a rollscreen unit which is complete and self supporting in itselfthat is, all its parts are fastened together and the screen is operable whether attached to a window or detached therefrom, the installation problem then being merely the attachment of the unit to the window, which can be done quite readily by means of spring clips or other fastening devices.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are at- .35 tained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an inside elevation of a casement window with a pair of my rollscreen units mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sec view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1. I

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an upper and lower corner of the unitary frame of my rollscreen unit.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the upper corners of the rollscreen unit.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 1, showing a. binder bar mounted in a guide element of the rollscreen unit.

Figures '7 and 8 are sectional views similar to a portion of Figure 2 showing other types of sup-- porting elements for the rollscreen unit; and

tional itself comprises a sill element 10w, side jamb elements 12a and a head jamb element 14a. On the drawings these are illustrated as being of'steel or other metal. I

- The window sash is shown at A, its frame being designated by the reference numeral 18 and the pane by the reference numeral 20. It is hinged as indicated at 22 and a fastening handle is illustrated at 24.

The side jamb elements 12a of the window frame are now commercially provided with spring clips or thelike 26, or these may be supplied and attached to window frames not already provided with them. I have shown modified forms of these clips in Figures 7 and 8 at 26a and 26b. The clips 26 are adapted originally tosupport fiat metal screens consisting of frames having the screen cloth permanently attached thereto, but in order to provide a rollscreen unit for substitution in place of such a flat screen, I have provided a rollscreen frame comprising vertical channel-shaped guide elements 28 at the sides of the window frame, a top angle-shaped cross bar 30 and a bottom angle-shaped cross bar 32. This construction is best illustrated in Figure 4. V

- Flanges 34 are provided at the ends of the cross bar 30 and the guide elements 28 are each provided with a lip 36. The flanges 34 are perforated as at 38 for 'a rolled screen shaft. The upper flange of the cross bar 30 has threaded openings 40, the purpose of which will hereinafter be set forth.

The frame consisting of the elements 28, 30 and 32 is preferably formed of heavy sheet metal, its elements being welded or otherwise rigidly secured together to form a unitary frame.

A rolled screen shaft 42 extends through-the perforations 38 of the flanges 34 and is supported thereby. A coiled spring 44 is wound on the shaft 42. A tubular drum 46 surrounds the spring 44. One end of the coiled spring 44 is secured to the shaft 42 and the other end is secured to the drum 46, the shaft being held stationary by suitable mechanism such as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,678,590, dated July 24,1928.

A screen- 48 is rolled on the tube 46 and has its inner end secured thereto. Its other end is provided with a binder bar having a finger ledge 52. The bottom cross bar 32 is provided with a spring latch 54 having lugs 56 to snap over the upper edge of the finger ledge 52 when the screen is in the lowered position of Figure 3. The screen can be released by pressing downwardly and inwardly on the latch 54 whereupon the screen will be rolled up due to the tension of the spring 44.

The ends of the binder bar 50 are provided with friction blocks 58 extending into the guide elements 28 to prevent rapid raising of the screen when released.

For covering the rolled screen, I provide a cover element 60 having its lower edge, indicated at 6011, doubled for reinforcing purposes and confined behind the lips 36. Its upper edge is secured to the upper flange of the cross bar 30 by screws 62 extending into the threaded openings 40.

Practical operation My rollscreen unit is completely assembled at the factory. In order to install it, it is merely necessary to snap it in position behind the spring clips 26. If the'types of clips shown in Figures 7 and 8 are used, adjusting screws 64 may be loosened for inserting the screen and then tightened for retaining it in position. Thereafter, when it is desirable to gain access to, or through the window, the latch 54 can be released and the screen rolled up instead of having to remove it as in the case of a flat screen.

The particular construction disclosed provides a very simple rollscreen unit which can be simply installed and which thereafter will operate in an efficient and ready manner. One rollscreen unit is provided for each section of the window so that provision does not have to be made for extending across the mullion.

The unit is neat in appearance, the casing 60 being its most bulky portion, but even this is not proportionally large, as will be readily apparent by examining the drawings. Furthermore, it is located at the head of the window where it is less conspicuous than if it were mounted elsewhere.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from-the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it'is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rollscreen unit comprising a unitary frame and a rolling screen, said unitary frame comprising vertical guide elements, a top cross bar and a bottom cross bar, said rolling screen comprising 2. rolled screen on said top cross bar and a binder bar secured to the 'lower edge of said rolled screen, the side edges of said rolled screen and the ends of said binder bar being movable longitudinally of and guided by said guide elements.

2. A rollscreen unit comprising a unitary frame and a rolling screen, said frame comprising vertical guide elements, a top cross bar, flanges at the ends thereof and a bottom cross bar, said rolling screen comprising a rolled, screen supported by said flanges and a binder bar secured to the lower edge of said rolled screen, the side edges of said rolled screen and said binder bar being movable longitudinally of and guided by said guide elements.

3. A rollscreen unit comprising a unitary frame and a rolling screen, said unitary frame comprising vertical guide elements, a top cross bar and a bottom cross bar, said rolling screen comprising a casing, a rolled screen therein and a binder bar secured to the lower edge of said rolled screen, said guide elements being provided with lips to engage and retain said casing in position relative to said unitary frame.

4. A rollscreen unit comprising a unitary frame and a rolling scre 11, said unitary frame comprising vertical guide elements, a top cross bar and a bottom cross bar, said rolling screen comprising a casing, a rolled screen therein, a binder bar secured to the lower edge of said rolled screen, said guide elements being provided with lips to engage one edge of said casing and fastening elements for retaining the other edge of said casing on said top cross bar.

5. A rollscreen unit comprising a unitary frame and a rolling screen, said unitary frame comprising vertical guide elements, a top cross bar and a bottom cross bar, said rolling screen comprising a rolled screen on said top cross bar, a binder bar secured to the lower edge of said rolled screen, the side edges of said rolled screen and the ends of said binder bar being movable longitudinally of and guided by said guide elements and a latch on said bottom cross bar to engage said binder bar and retain said rolled screen in extended position.

6. A rollscreen unit comprising a unitary 

